A recent report by Stats NZ has indicated that New Zealand’s resident population grew by 2.1 percent (105,900) over the previous 12 months, reaching 5.22 million on the 30th of June 2023.
Projections manager, Michael MacAskill said that a growth of 2.1 percent is a sizeable rebound.
“New Zealand’s net migration during the June 2023 year was the main driver of population growth over this period,” said MacAskill.
Net migration gained 86,800 in the June 2023 year, a complete reverse of the 17,600 loss in 2022. Reduced migration due to Covid-19 border restrictions resulted in low population growth in both 2021 and 2022.
MacAskill added that New Zealand’s population change is a combination of natural increases, and a net migration as well.
“Natural increase had a smaller impact on population growth than in previous years, due to fewer live births and slightly more deaths. The natural increase of 19,100 was the smallest New Zealand has experienced since 1943.”
In the June 2023 year, there were 57,500 live births in New Zealand, a drop of 4.8 percent. There were 38,300 deaths, which was a growth of 3.8 percent. There were 195,200 arrivals, which was an increase of 219 percent, whilst departures were up 37.6 percent at 108,400.
New Zealand has an ageing population with an increasing death rate each year. The highest increase was during the September and December quarters of the June 2023 year.
There was significant growth of the young working-age adult population, between 15 to 39 years of age. The demographic was up 3.3 percent over the June 2023 year, an increase of 56,200. This accounts to approximately 154 people per day. Net migration was the main reason of the increase, with young working-age adults making up two-thirds of the gain.
The lowest increase was among people aged from zero to 14 years of age, at only 0.5 percent or just 4,600 people. This accounts for only 13 per day. This is also a reflection of the June 2023 year having a less birth rate than other years, and was the lowest number since 2005.
The retirement age of 65 plus has continued to grow, and increased by 2.8 percent, approximately 65 people per day and 23,900 people overall.
"People born in the late 1950s are now entering this age group and exceeding the numbers exiting this age group through death,” MacAskill said.
